Apparatus for printing and dispensing labels

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for and method of dispensing labels and a printing device for and method of printing such labels are disclosed.

United States Patent Kelly 1 51 Feb. 6, 1973 1 APPARATUS FOR PRINTINGAND [56] References Cited DISPENSING LABELS UNITED STATES PATENTS [751lnvwtori Calvin Keny Franklin, 2,569,140 9/1951 Avery ..156/54l x [73] Ai U i d St Su corporafion 3,222,242 12/1965 lngalls et a1. ..156/5843,551,262 12/1970 Kelly ..156/584 [221 Fllcdi 22, 1971 2,181,435 11 1939COl'lS ..101/226 121] App1.No.: 117,601

7 Primary Examiner Ralph S. Kendall 52 US. 01.; ..156/54l, 101/226,156/384, j g gl z 56/577 56/584 tzorneyo ert ee r.

51] Int. Cl. ..B44c 1/24 [58] Field 61 Search ..156/384, 385, 387, 355,494, [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for and method of dispensing labels anda printing device for and method of printing such labels are disclosed29 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB s m 3,715,262 SHEET 1 or 7INVENTOR CALV/N E. KELLY uasi m T wt .II N

PATENTEDFEB 5:225 3.715.262 SHEET 20F 7 FIG /6 IIVVEIVTOI? CALVIN E.KELLY @V/I/dnflg ia Ill! l fla IIIII i PATENTEDFEB s m SHEET 4 0F 7INVENTO/P CAL VIN E. KELLY PATENTEDFEB s i9i3 SHEET 8 OF 7 INVENTOR 64VIN E. KELL Y APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AND DISPENSING LABELS A. Thelabeling apparatus dispenses pressure-sensitive adhesive labels mountedin a spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip and applies thelabels onto an elongated member. The apparatus has a-frame and a take-upreel at one end of the frame, which take-up reel is engageable with theelongated member as a first rolling means for the frame and forreceiving the carrier strip after the labels have been removed from thecarrier strip. A rolling means on the frame is in spaced relation withthe take-up reel. The take-up reel and the rolling means movably supportthe frame. A supply reel is on the frame for the label-bearing carrierstrip. A peel-off member on the frame adjacent the elongated memberbetween the rolling means and the take-up reel receives thelabel-bearing carrier strip from the supply reel adjacent one side ofthe peel-off member while the label-bearing carrier strip is moving inone direction toward the elongated member so that the label continues inthe one direction while the carrier strip-moves around the peel-offmember and continues in another direction toward the take-up reel.

The label is moved in the one direction by the carrier strip and intoengagement with the elongated member as the carrier strip moves in theother direction toward the take-up reel. The label is rolled against theelongated member as the rolling means engages the label, and either theframe is movable on the first rolling means and the take-up reel in theother direction or the elongated member is movable in the one directionto rotate the take-up reel to cause the take-up reel to pull the labelbearing carrier strip from the supply reel around the peel-off memberand onto the take-up reel.

B. A printing means is engageable with the label on the label-bearingcarrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on the label.

C. The dispensing method includes the steps of:

a. storing the label-bearing carrier strip on a supply reel; moving thelabel-bearing carrier strip adjacent one side of a peel-off member whilethe label-bearing carrier strip is moving in one direction toward theelongated member so that the label continues in the one direction whilethe carrier strip moves around the peel-off member and continues inanother direction toward the take-up reel;

. moving the label in the one direction and into engagement with theelongated member as the carrier strip moves in the other directiontoward a takeup reel; 1

d. rolling the label against the elongated member to secure the label tothe elongated member; and

e. moving either the take-up reel on the elongated member in the otherdirection or moving the elongated member in the one direction to rotatethe take-up reel thereby causing the'take-up reel to pull thelabel-bearing carrier strip from the supply reel around the peel-offmember and onto the take-up reel.

D. The printing method includes the step of printing a predeterminedindicia on said labels.

E. The printing means for printing a predetermined indicia on anelongated member has a frame having relative movement with respect tothe elongated member, and a printing device on the frame engageable withthe elongated member and driven by the relative movement between theframe and the elongated member to print the predetermined indicia on thelongitudinal member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, prior to my invention it hasbeen known to strip pressure sensitive labels automatically from acarrier strip by a reverse bend around a metal plate. Prior art devices,however, have been unable to consistently strip the label onto a hotsurface without the label curling. Attempts to place a contact roll nearthe point at which the label is deposited have either been onlypartially successful or have had a tendency to tear the carrier paperand thus cause delays.

Also, it is known to make a labeling machine with a printing attachment.These machines have generally been of the platen type, wherein the wholeseries of information is on one plate and, as the label passes over anoppositely disposed plate, the whole label is immediately printed.Because these devices are not adaptable to vary with the speed ofamoving elongated object and not easily converted to a size amenable toboth hand operation and pedestal-mounted machine operation, they havenot been successful.

Hand roller printing units have been produced but these devices alwayssuccumbed to the tendency to throw the letter blocks when a smalldiameter wheel was used on operations running at speeds of about 200 fpmand above. Hand roller printing units have not been successfullycombined with labelers because of the inability to maintain a constantpressure between the label and the printing mechanism and between theprinting mechanism and the ink supply and also become commerciallyavailable labels are not produced suitable for use with roller printershaving diameters of about 4 inches and over.

Roller printers are currently available but are not produced with aprinting roll having a diameter below about 4 inches because of thethrowing of the '74 inch I letters, which inch size is a desirable sizefor steel mill applications. Therefore, conventional devices, currentlyused, are large and cumbersome, generally being of a size that requiresa standing man to operate the roller printing mechanism. Theseroller-printers are also provided with characters around thecircumference of a wheel.

Conventional labeling devices are of the type shown OBJECTS OF THEINVENTION It is the general object of this invention to avoid andovercome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to priorart practices by the provision of an improved method of and apparatusfor printing, dispensing and applying labels or for dispensing andapplying the labels in an unprinted condition to an elongated member atspaced intervals thereon, which improved method and apparatus:

1. provide a permanent or semi-permanent mark on the elongated members;

provide a readily readable mark through the primer coating on theelongated members; 3. eliminate the use of scanners, detectors and thelike; provide a mark which is inert with respect to primer coatingsystems; 5. provide a mark which is pleasing in appearance;

. do not affect the mechanical properties of the elongated member; 7.will operate with a long life in a factory or plant environment; 8. aresimple to operate and to maintain;

. minimize erroneous marking of the elongated member product; 10.provide rapid and facile change of the mark from one product to anotherproduct: 1 l are low in capital cost and operating cost; 12. provideproperly spaced marking on elongated members to eliminate loss ofmaterial identity in the elongated members after severence thereof intosmaller sizes;

13. provide a consistently readable mark on elongated members;

14. provide a marked label or label for marking such that the label isnot susceptible to curing when applied to a heated elongated member;

15. are reproducible in sizes adaptable to hand application ofa mark;

16. provide consistent marking quality by automatically maintaining afixed, critical pressure between the label to be marked and the markingdevice and between the marking device and an ink supply;

17. provide a readily removable supply reel, take-up reel, printingdevice, back-up roller, and front roller;

18. accommodate variations in the diameter of the core for the carriertape and in the width of the tape;

19. provide a predetermined pressure to the printer roll on the back-uproll and to the ink roll on the printer roll, thereby preventingsmudging of the printing on the label and insuring uniform printingthereon;

20. control deformation of the ink roll during printing 21. requires nosynchronization between the printing roll and label travel;

22. are readily assembled and disassembled; and

23. are adaptable for either in-line operation or hand (portable)operation (i.e. off-line operation).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid objects of this invention,and other objects which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, are achieved by providing an apparatus for and method ofprinting and of dispensing labels.

A. The labeling apparatus dispenses pressure-sensitive adhesive labelsmounted in a spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip andapplies the labels onto an elongated member. The apparatus has a frameand a take-up reel at one end of the frame, engageable with theelongated member as a first rolling means for the frame and forreceiving the carrier strip after the labels have been removed from thecarrier strip. A rolling means is on the frame in spaced relation withthe takeup reel. The take-up reel and the rolling means movably supportthe frame. A supply reel on the frame is for the label-bearing carrierstrip. A peel-off member on the frame adjacent the elongated memberbetween the rolling means and the take-up reel receives thelabel-bearing carrierstrip from the supply reel adjacent one side of thepeel-off member while the label-bearing carrier strip is moving in onedirection toward the elongated member so that the label continues in theone direction while the carrier strip moves around the peeloff memberand continues in another direction toward the take-up reel.

The label is moved in the one direction by the carrier strip and intoengagement with the elongated member as the carrier strip moves in theother direction toward the take-up reel. The label is rolled against theelongated member as the rolling means engages the label, and either theframe is movable on the first rolling means and the take-up reel in theother direction, or the elongated member is movable in the one directionto rotate the take-up reel to cause the take-up reel to pull thelabel-bearing carrier strip from the supply reel around the peel-offmember and onto the take-up reel.

B. A printing means is engageable with the label on the label-bearingcarrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on the label.

C. The dispensing method includes the steps of:

a. storing the label-bearing carrier strip on a supply reel; moving thelabel-bearing carrier strip adjacent one side of a peel-off member whilethe label-bearing carrier strip is moving in one direction toward theelongated member so that the label continues in the one direction whilethe carrier strip moves around the peel-off member and continues inanother direction toward the take-up reel;

c. moving the label in the one direction and into engagement with theelongated member as the carrier strip moves in the other directiontoward a takeup reel;

. rolling the label against the elongated member to secure the label tothe elongated member; and

. moving either the take-up reel on the elongated member in the otherdirection or moving the elongated member in the one direction to rotatethe take-up reel thereby causing the take-up reel to pull thelabel-bearing carrier strip from the supply reel around the peel-offmember and onto the take-up reel.

D. The printing method includes the step of printing a predeterminedindicia on said labels.

E. The printing means for printing a predetermined indicia either on anelongated member or a label has a frame having relative movement withrespect to the elongated member; and a printing device on the frameengageable with the elongated member and driven by the relative movementbetween the frame and the elongated member to print the predeterminedindicia on the longitudinal member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a betterunderstanding of this invention, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicatesimilar parts through the several views and wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the labeling apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the label-bearingcarrier strips showing the length L of the labels and the spacedrelation d between such labels;

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of one of the side plates of theframe for such apparatus and showing the integrating rod, the supplyreel rod, take-up reel rod, roller means rod and printing roll framepivot rod;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus taken along the line2-2 of FIG. I in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the frame supply reel, take-upreel and supply reel tensioning means taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1in the direction of the arrows; 2

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the printing means taken alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing theprinting roll frame, printing roll and inking roll;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view ofthe rolling means taken along theline 66 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the frame, theassembly rod and the locking means for securing the readily detachableframe together, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view (with the frame omitted for clarity)of the inking roll showing the pressure determining rod, the eccentricrod, the bearing between the eccentric rod and the rotatable mountingsleeve, the ink roll on the mounting sleeve and one of the sideretaining plates or sleeves;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the elongated member and three ofthe printed labels thereon showing that by maintaining the peripherallength of the printing means substantially equal to the length of alabel, the label movement need not be synchronized with the printingmovement;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to the upper portion of FIG. 4 showing analternative embodiment of the supply reel tensioning means carried bythe supply reel and engaging the extended side walls of the frame;

FIG. II is a fragmentary side elevational view of the handle, thepressure pin and a portion of the printing roll frame showing analternative stop means having a mounting lug on the printing roll frameand a stop engageable with the handle;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a further embodiment of thestop means having a stop plate on the printing roll frame and the stopcarried by the handle;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to the left-hand portion of FIG. 5 showing analternative embodiment of the printing roll pressure means wherein saidpressure pin is carried by the frame;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing a further embodiment of theprinting roll pressure means wherein the printing roll pressure means isa resilient ring carried by the printing roll;

FIG. 15A is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative embodiment of theprinting means for printing directly on the longitudinal member;

FIG. 15B is a side elevational view taken along the line 15B-1SB of FIG.15A in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 16l6 of FIG.15, of the O-ring on the printing roll for driving the inking rollwherein the nut and threads on the printing roll shaft are reversed fromthat shown in FIG. 5 and the adjustment nut and the locking nut on theinking roll shaft are also reversed from the showing of FIG. 5.

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable to theprinting of labels and dispensing of such printed labels onto aworkpiece of any size or shape, this invention is particularly adaptedfor use in conjunction with an elongated workpiece, and hence it hasbeen so illustrated and will be so described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form of thisinvention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly toFIGS. l-3, a labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure sensitiveadhesive labels 10 (FIGS. 1,1A,9) having a length L (FIG. 1A) of about2% inches and mounted in spaced relation (1 (FIG. 1A) of about 1/8inchon a label-bearing carrier strip 12 (FIGS. 1,1A), is indicated bythe reference numeral 14 (FIG. 1).

APPARATUS 14 The labeling apparatus 14 applies the labels 10 onto anelongated member 16 (FIGS. 1,9,15A) such as a steel bar, plate or thelike. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the labeling apparatus 14 has a frame 18.

FRAME 18 The frame 18 has a pair of opposed side plates 20a and 20b(FIGS. 1-7, 10, 13-14, 16). The means utilized to integrate the tworeadily detachable side plates 20a and 20b has an assembly rod 22 (FIGS.1,18) projecting from the plate 20b (FIGS. 1,1823) and into and througha hole 24 (FIGS. 1,3) in the other side plate 20a. A knurled nut 26(FIGS. 13) applied to the threaded end of the assembly rod 22 projectingthrough the hole 24 secures the frame 18 in the integrated positionshown in FIGS. 1-3. Also as shown in FIGS. 1,1B,2,3,4, a supply reelshaft 28, a take-up reel shaft 30 (FIGS. 1,lB,4), and a rolling meansshaft 32 (FIGS. 1,1A,2,3,6) project from the side plate 20b insubstantially parallel relationship to the assembly rod 22 and projectthrough suitable holes 340 (FIGS. 1-4), 34b (FIG. 1), 34 (FIGS. l-3,6)in the other side plate 20a to provide suitably mounting means for asupply reel 36 (FIGS. l-4), a take-up reel 38 (FIGS. 1,4), and rollingmeans 40 (FIGS. 1-3).

TAKE-UP REEL 38 The take-up reel 38 (FIGS. 1-3 and 4) shown partially inFIG. 4, has a pair of opposed side plates 42a (FIGS. 1,3,4), 42b (FIGS.2,4) connected by a roll core sleeve 44 (FIGS. 1,3,4). As notedparticularly in FIG. 4, the roll core sleeve 44 has a first core sleevemember 46a projecting from the side plate 42a which core sleeve member460 is threadable and readily disconnected from a second core sleevemember 46a projecting from the other side plate 42b. For the purpose ofaccommodating varying diameters of the core (not shown) for thelabel-bearing carrier strip roll and varying widths of the label-bearingcarrier strip 12, the core sleeve members 46a and 46b (FIG. 4) areprovided with tapered portions 48 (FIG. 4) adjacent the side plates42a,43b. The means utilized to lighten or reduce the weight of thetake-up reel 38 and to provide visibility of the amount of the carrierstrip 12 on the take-up reel 38 comprises a plurality of holes 50 (FIGS.1,4) drilled in the side plates 42a,42b of such take-up reel 38.

The take-up reel 38 (FIGS. 1,4) mounted on the lefthand end of the frame18 (as viewed in FIG. 1) is engageable with the elongated member 16 as afirst rolling means for the frame 18 and is utilized for driving andreceiving the carrier strip 12 after the labels have been removed fromthe carrier strip 12 as hereinafter explained.

ROLLING MEANS 40 To provide a second means for movably supporting theframe 18, the rolling means or roller 40 (FIGS. l,2,3,6) is mounted onthe rolling means shaft 32 (FIGS. 1-3) in spaced relationship with thetake-up reel 38. This rolling means or roller 40 is shown in FIGS. 1-3and 6, and particularly in detail in FIG. 6. Such roller 40 has a steelsleeve 54 (FIGS. l3,7) rotatable by means of bearings 56 (FIG. 6) on therolling means shaft 32 and is provided with-an outer substantially hardrubber-like roller 58 (FIGS. 13,6).

The supply reel 36 is mounted on the supply reel shaft 28 above thetake-up reel 38, as viewed in FIG. 1, for storing the label bearingcarrier strip 12. The rolling means shaft 32 is secured in the sideplate b of the frame 18 by means ofa nut 53 (FIG. 3).

v SUPPLY REEL 36 This supply reel 36 (FIGS. 1-3 and 4) is essentiallysimilar in construction to the take-up reel 38, and as shown in FIG. 4,has a pair of opposed side plates 42a,42b integrated by a roll coresleeve 44 having core sleeve members 46a,46b threadably connected at 47for easy assembly and disassembly. The roll core sleeve 44 rotates onthe supply reel shaft 28 by means of bearings 56 and the core sleevemembers 46a and 46b are tapered at 48 (FIG. 4) adjacent the side plates42a and 42b for the same purpose as the tapered portions 48 on thetake-up reel 38. Between the rolling means 40 and the take-up reel 38 apeel-off member 60 (FIG. 1) is mounted by bolts 61 (FIG. 1) on the frame18 adjacent the elongated member 16 between the supply reel 36 and thetake-up reel 38.

PEEL-OFF MEMBER 60 As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the peel-off member60 receives the label-bearing carrier strip 12 (FIGS. 1,1A) from thesupply reel 36 adjacent one side (i.e., the top side, as viewed inFIG. 1) of the peel-off member 60 while the label-bearing carrier strip12 is OPERATION The label 10 is moved in the one direction to the rightas indicated by the upper arrow in FIG. 1 by the carrier strip 12 andsuch label moves into engagement with the elongated member 16 as thecarrier strip 12 moves in the other direction to the left indicated bythe lower arrow in FIG. 1 toward the take-up reel. The labelingapparatus 14 moves to the left, as indicated by the top arrow markedwith the legend apparatus in FIG. 1, and the detached label 10 is rolledagainst the elongated member'16 as the rolling means 40 engages thelabel 10 during such movement of the labeling apparatus 14 to the leftas viewed in FIG. 1 in the direction of the large arrow markedapparatus.

As shown in FIGS. l-3, the frame 18 is movable on the rolling means 40and the take-up reel 38 in the direction of the large arrow markedapparatus in FIG. 1 to rotate the take-up reel 38 in a counterclockwisedirection indicated by the arrow associated with the take-up reel 38 inFIG. 1, thereby causing the take-up reel 38 to pull the label-bearingstrip 12 from the supply reel 36 around the peel-off member 60 and ontothe take-up reel 38.

Alternatively, to achieve the same above describe results, the labelingapparatus 14 can be maintained in a stationary position (not shown) andthe elongated member 16 moved in the one direction to the right to causethe desired rotation of the take-up reel 38 and the roller 40 (FIG. 1).

For the purpose of tensioning the supply reel 36, a supply reeltensioning means 62 (FIG. 4) is provided.

SUPPLY REEL TENSIONING MEANS 62 Such supply reel tensioning means 62(FIG. 4) is mounted on one member of the supply reel 36 and the frame 18(in this case, as shown in FIG. 4 on the frame 18) and is engageablewith the other member of the supply reel 36 and the frame 18 (in thiscase, the supply reel 36) to apply a predetermined tension to the supplyreel 36 and the label-bearing carrier strip 12 stored on the supply reel36. This supply reel tensioning means 62 has a housing 64 (FIG. 4)threadably secured at 65 in the side plate 20a and is provided with apositionable pressure pin 66 secured by a hollow threaded pin 67(containing a plunger 67a and spring 67b) into the housing 64 and havingits piston 68 projecting out of the housing 64 and into engagement withthe side plate 42a of the supply reel 36. In order to apply thepredetermined desired pressure or tensioning force against the supplyreel 36, the threadable bolt 67 is rotatable on the threads 72 betweenthe housing 64 and bolt 67.

The means utilized to print a predetermined indicia (FIG. 9) indecreasing spaced relation d3 and d4, etc. (FIG. 9) on the elongatedmember 16, is a printing means 74 (FIGS. 13,5) which is mounted on theframe 18 between the supply reel 36 and the peel-off member 60. Theprinting means 74 is engageable with the labels (FIG. 1) on thelabel-bearing carrierstrip 12.

PRINTING MEANS 74 This printing means 74 has a back-up roll 76 (FIGS.1-3 and 7) which is mounted on the assembly rod 22 secured in the sideplate a of the frame 18 by the knurled nut 26 and in the side plate 20bby an assembly knurled nut 53. This back-up roll 76 has a steel sleeve78 (FIG. 7) rotatable by means of bearings 80 (FIG. 7) on the assemblyrod 22, and has a resilient rubber-like roll 82 (FIG. 7) mounted on thesleeve 78. Such backup roll 76 is, of course, mounted on the carrierstrip side, i.e., the lower side, as viewed in FIG. 1, of thelabel-bearing carrier strip 12. The backup roll. 76 is driven inclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow associated with the backuproll 76 (FIG. 1) by the label-bearing carrier strip 12.

A printing roll assembly 84 (FIGS. 1-3,5,l5) of the printing means 74has a frame 86 (FIGS. l-3,5,11- 14,15) pivoted on the printing rollassembly pivot rod 33 (FIGS. 13,5) As shown in FIGS. 13, the frame 86has a pair of side plates 88 (FIGS. l3,5,l l14,15) fixedly secured to asteel sleeve 90 (FIGS. 13,5), which sleeve 90 rotates on the printingroll assembly pivot rod 33. In the opposite end, i.e., the left-hand endas viewed in FIG. 3, the side plates 88 are integrated by a top plate 92(FIGS. 13,5,11,12,l5) secured to the side plates 88 by suitablefasteners, such as screws 94 (FIGS. 13,5,l1,12) or the like.

A printing roll 96 (FIGS. 13,5,13-15) is mounted on a bolt 98 (FIGS.13,5,1315) extended through the side plate 20b of the frame 18 andthreadable by means of threads 99 (FIGS. 5,13,14) into the side plate20a of the frame 18. The printing roll 96 rotates by means of bearings57 (FIGS. 5,13,14) on the bolt 98 and such bolt 98 is removable from theframe 18 by means of a knurled head 100 (FIGS. 3,5,13,14) on the upperside of the bolt 98 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Such printing roll 96 is provided with a pair of opposedtires 102 (FIGS.5,13,14) suitably O-rings or the like seated in slots 104 (FIGS.5,13,14) in the outer periphery of the printing roll 96. These tires 102engage and ride on the back-up roll 76 so that such printing roll 96 isdriven in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the associatedarrow in FIG. 1 by the back-up roll 76. The marking indicia indicated inFIG. 9 comprises, for example, coded indicia indicating the type ofelongated member, the metallic heat number utilized in the metallicmember and the dimensional characteristics of such elongated member andare suitably hard rubber-type members 106 (FIGS. 2,5,13,14) force fittedinto suitably spaced cavities 108 or a longitudinal groove 108 (FIGS.5,13,14) in the periphery of the printing roll 96. Each of the threelines or rows of indicia (totalling nine lines or rows) are suitablysubstantially equal to the length L (FIGS. 1A,9) of a label 10 so thatas shown in FIG. 9, the three rows of predetermined indicia are alwaysprinted on a label 10 regardless of the synchronization of the labelmovement through the printing roll assembly 84 with the printing rollassembly 84.

As shown in FIGS. 13, the printing roll assembly 84 has a pressuremember, suitably a handle 110 (FIGS. l3',11,12,5) or the like, pivotedat 112 (FIGS. 13,11,12,5) on an arm 114 (FIGS.v 1,2,11,12) secured by abolt 116 (FIG. 2) to the side plate 20a of the frame 18. The pressuremember handle 110 carries a spring loaded pin 118 (FIGS. 1,11,12)similar to pin 67, FIG. 4, which pin 118 is engageable with one memberof the printing roll 96 and the printing roll frame 86 to apply apredetermined printing pressure to the printing roll 96, the labels l0,and the resilient back-up roll 76. The pressure member or handle 110 isprovided with stop means 120 (FIG. 1) for limiting the pressure applyingmovement of the handle 110. Such stop means 120 comprises a generallyflat surface 122 (FIG. 1) on the handle 110 adjacent the pivot 112 whichis engageable when the handle 110 is moved in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 1 with a stop lug surface 124 (FIG. 1) on the arm 114beneath the pivot 112 and adjacent the top plate 92 of the frame 86 ofthe printing roll assembly 84.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the pressure pin 118 engages thetop plate 92 of the frame 86 of the printing roll assembly 84. When theflat surface 122 (FIG. 1) on the handle 110 engages the stop lug surface124 further clockwise movement of the handle 110 is' prevented and apredetermined pressure is applied by the spring loaded pin 118 to theframe 86 of the printing roll assembly 84, thereby transmitting suchpredetermined printing pressure to the printing roll 96, the labels 10,and the resilient back-up roll 76.

As shown in FIGS. l3,5 and 8, an inking roll 126 is mounted on theprinting roll frame 86 in engagement with the printing roll 96 forapplying printing ink to the printing roll 96. Such inking roll 126 hasa pressure positioning shaft 128 (FIGS. 13,5,8,15) extending on bearings129 (FIGS. 5,8) through the side plates 20a,20b of the frame 18 of thelabeling apparatus 14. An eccentric shaft 130 (FIG. 8) is integrallyformed with thepressure positioning shaft 128 (FIGS. 5,8). A rotatablemounting sleeve 134 (FIGS. 5,8) rotates on the bearings 129 and carriesthe resilient ink-saturated ink roll 136 (FIGS. 5,8). For the purpose ofmaintaining the dimensional stability of the ink roll 136 during theinking operating while such ink roll 136 is in engagement with theprinting roll 96, retaining side plates 138 (FIGS. 5,8) are secured tothe rotatable mounting sleeve 134 as by screws 140 (FIGS. 5,8). In orderto apply a predetermined inking pressure to the printing reel 96, thepressure positioning shaft 128 is positioned by means of a knurled nut142 (FIGS. 13,5) against the printing roll 96 (adjacent side plate 20aof frame 18) and is secured in the predetermined pressure applyingposition by means of a knurled nut 53 (FIGS. 2,3,5) on the opposite sideof the shaft 128 adjacent the side plate 20b of the frame 18.

AL'IERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will he understood by those skilled in theart that alternatively as shown in FIG. 10, the supply reel 36 carriesthe supply reel tensioning means 62" which engages and rides on theextended side plate a of the frame 18 of the labeling apparatus 14.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a stop means 120 associatedwith the handle 110. In this embodiment, the flat surface 122 engageablewith the stop lug 124 is eliminated and an arm 144 projects from themounting arm 114 for the handle 110. The mounting lug or arm 144 carriesa stop 146 secured thereto as by welds 148, which stop 146 is engageablewith the underside 150 of the handle 110 to limit the clockwise rotationof such handle 110.

In FIG. 12, the stop 146 is secured as by welds 148 to the underside 150of the handle 110 and engages the stop plate 144 on the pivot arm 114 tolimit the downward clockwise movement of the handle 110.

In FIG. 13, a pressure pin 118 is mounted on one of the side plates 88of the frame 86 for the printing roll assembly 84 and engages the handle110 (not shown in FIG. 13).

FIG. 14 shows a resilient pressure ring 152 carried by the outerperiphery of the printing roll 96 as a replace ment for the pressure pin118 shown in FIGS. I3 and pressure pin 118 shown in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15A, 158 show a portable printing roll assembly 84 for printingdirectly on the elongated member 16 or label-carrying member. Suchprinting means 84 has a handle 110 mounted on side plates 88 of theframe 86, which frame 86 is movable by means of wheels 158 relative tothe elongated member 16. Although not shown in FIG. 15, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the above described stopmeans 120 and pressure pin 118 associated with the handle 110 can beincorporated in the printing machine 84 and that the pressure applyingmeans associated with the inking roll 126 is also used therein.

FIG. 16 shows drive rings 102 for driving the inking roll 124 and forpreventing over pressure on printing members 106 to prevent smudging ofthe printing members 106.

SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It will berecognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of thisinvention have been achieved by providing an improved labeling apparatus14 and method of labeling an elongated member 16, an improved printingmeans 74 and method of printing on a label 10 on the workpiece 16. Thelabeling apparatus 14 and printing roll assembly 84 (FIGS. l14) and 84''(FIG. 15) provide a permanent or semi-permanent mark (FIG. 9) on theelongated members 16; provide a readily readible mark (FIG. 9) through aprimer coating (not shown) on the elongated members 16; eliminate theuse of scanners, detectors (not shown) and the like; provide a mark(FIG. 9) inert with respect to primer coating system for the workpiece16; provide a mark (FIG. 9) which is pleasing in appearance; do notaffect the mechanical properties of the elongated workpiece 16; willoperate with a long life in a factory or a plant environment; are simpleto operate and to maintain; minimize and eliminate erroneous marking ofthe elongated workpiece 16; permit rapid and facile change of the mark106 (FIG. 9) from one product 16 to another product 16', are low incapital cost and operating cost; provide properly spaced markings d3,d4,etc. (FIG. 9) on workpieces 16 to eliminate loss of material indemnityon the workpiece 16 after severance thereof into smaller sizes andpieces; provide a consistently readable mark (FIG. 9) on the workpieces16; provide a marked label 10 or label 10 for marking such that thelabel 10 is not susceptible to curling when applied to a heatedworkpiece at about 300500F; are reproducible in sizes-adaptable to handapplication of a mark (FIG. 9); provide consistent marking quality byautomatically mounting a fixed critical pressure between the label 10 tobe marked and the printing rod 96 and the back-up roll 76 and betweenthe printing roll 96 and the inking roll 126; provide a readilyremovable supply reel 36, take-up reel 38, printing roll assembly 84, 84back-up roller 76, and front roller accommodate variations in thediameter of the core (not shown) for the carrier tape roll andvariations in the width of the carrier tape 12; provide a predeterminedpressure to the printing roll 96 on the back-up roll 76 and to theinking roll 126 on the printing roll 96 thereby preventing smudging ofthe mark (FIG. 9) on the label 10 and insuring uniform printing thereon;prevent deformation of the inking roll 126 (by the sleeves 138, FIGS.5,8) during the printing operation; requires no synchronization betweenthe printing roll 96 and the label travel or movement through theprinting means 74; and are readily assembled and disassembled.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternativeembodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesivelabels mounted in a first spaced relation on a label-bearing carrierstrip and for applying said labels onto an elongated member, saidapparatus having:

a. a frame;

b. a take-up reel at one end ofsaid frame, engageable with saidelongated member as a first rolling means for said frame and forreceiving said carrier strip after said labels have been removed fromsaid carrier strip;

. a rolling means on said frame in rolling spaced relation with saidtake-up reel, I I. said take-up reel and said rolling means movablysupporting said frame;

. a supply reel on said frame for storingsaid labelbearing carrierstrip;

e. a peel-off member on said frame adjacent said elongated memberbetween said rolling means and said take-up reel and for receiving saidlabel-bearing carrier strip from said supply reel adjacent one side ofsaid peel-off member while said label-bearing carrier strip is moving inone direction toward said elongated member so that said label continuesin said one direction while said carrier strip moves around saidpeel-off member and continues in another direction toward said take-upreel,

1. said label being moved in said one direction by said carrier stripand into engagement with said elongated member as said carrier stripmoves in said other direction toward said take-up reel,

2. said label being rolled against said elongated member as said rollingmeans engages said label;

f. either said frame being movable on said rolling means and saidtake-up reel in said other direction or said elongated member beingmovable in said one direction to rotate said take-up reel to cause saidtake-up reel to pull said label-bearing carrier strip from said supplyreel around said peel-off member and onto said take-up reel;

g. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and saidpeel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearingcarrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels;

h. said printing means having a back-up roll on said frame on thecarrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing rollframe pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing rollframe and engageable with said labels to print said predeterminedindicia on said labels; and

i. said printing roll having printing means and said printing meanshaving a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a labelthereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through saidprinting means with the movement of said printing means.

2. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said frame has apair of opposed side plates and one of said side plates has an assemblyrod projecting therefrom and into said other side plate to form saidframe.

3. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said assembly rodis detachable from said other side plate.

4. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said supply reel ismounted above said take-up reel on the opposed reel side plates of saidframe.

5. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein one reel of saidsupply reel and said take-up reel has opposed reel side plates connectedby a roll core sleeve.

6. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said roll coresleeve has a first core sleeve member and a second core sleeve memberdetachable from said first core sleeve member to facilitate loading andunloading of said one reel.

7. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said roll coresleeve has a tapered portion adjacent one of said reel side plates toaccommodate varying diameters of the core for said label-bearing carrierstrip and varying widths of said label-bearing carrier strip.

8. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 and having a supply reeltensioning means on one member of said supply reel and said frameengageable with the other member of said supply reel and said frame toapply a predetermined tension to said supply reel and said label bearingcarrier strip stored on said supply reel.

9. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said label-bearingcarrier strip drives said back-up roll.

10. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printing rollis driven by said back-up roll.

11. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printingmeans has a pressure member pivotable on said frame and engageable withone member of said printing roll and said printing roll frame to apply apredetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels andsaid back-up roll.

12. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said back-up rollis resilient.

13. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein one member ofsaid frame and said pressure member has stop means to limit the pressureapplying movement of said pressure member.

14. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 13 and having printing rollpressure means on one member of said pressure member, said printing rolland said printing roll frame to engage another member of said pressuremember, said printing roll and said printing roll frame to limit saidpressure applying movement of said pressure member and to apply apredetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels andsaid back-up roll.

15. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printingmeans has an inking roll on said printing roll frame engageable withsaid printing roll for applying printing ink to said printing roll.

16. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said inking rollhas ink roll pressure applying means for applying a predetermined inkingpressure between said printing roll and said inking roll.

17. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein said ink rollpressure applying means has a first shaft mounted on said printing rollframe, a second shaft eccentrically mounted on said first shaft and saidinking roll is rotatable on said second shaft.

18. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said inking rollhas rigid side plates confining said inking roll during the inkingoperation so that said inking roll maintains its dimensional stability.

19. For a labelingapparatus for dispensing pressuresensitive adhesivelabels mounted in a spaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip andfor applying said labels onto an elongated member, said apparatus havinga frame, a supply reel on said frame for storing said label-bearingcarrier strip, a peel-off member on said frame for separating a labelfrom said carrier strip and directing said label onto said elongatedmember, a take-up reel on said frame for receiving the label-lesscarrier strip, and a rolling means on said frame in rolling spacedrelation with said take-up reel,

a. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel and saidpeel-off member and engageable with said labels on said label-bearingcarrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels,

. said printing means having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrierstrip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll framepivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frameand engageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia onsaid labels; and

c. said printing roll having printing means and said printing meanshaving a peripheral length substantially equal to the length of a labelthereby eliminating synchronization of the label movement through saidprinting means with the movement of said printing means.

20. The printing means recited in claim 19 wherein said label-bearingcarrier strip drives said back-up roll.

21. The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said printing roll isdriven by said back-up roll.

22. The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said printing meanshas a pressure member pivotable on said frame and engageable with onemember of said printing roll and said printing roll frame to apply apredetermined printing pressure to said printing roll, said labels andsaid back-up roll.

23. The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein said back-up roll isresilient.

24. The printing means recited in claim 22 wherein one member of saidframe and said pressure member has stop means to limit the pressureapplying movement of said pressure member.

25. The printing means recited in claim 24 having printing roll pressuremeans on one member of said pressure member, said printing roll and saidprinting roll frame to engage another member of said pressure member,said printing roll and said printing roll frame, when said stop meanslimits said pressure applying 28. The printing means recited in claim 27wherein said ink roll pressure applying means has a first shaft mountedon said printing roll frame, a second shaft eccentrically mounted onsaid first shaft and said inking roll is rotatable on said second shaft.

29. The printing means recited in claim 26 wherein said inking roll hasrigid side plates confining said inking roll during the inking operationso that said inking roll maintains its dimensional stability.

1. A labeling apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesivelabels mounted in a first spaced relation on a label-bearing carrierstrip and for applying said labels onto an elongated member, saidapparatus having: a. a frame; b. a take-up reel at one end of saidframe, engageable with said elongated member as a first rolling meansfor said frame and for receiving said carrier strip after said labelshave been removed from said carrier strip; c. a rolling means on saidframe in rolling spaced relation with said take-up reel,
 1. said labelbeing moved in said one direction by said carrier strip and intoengagement with said elongated member as said carrier strip moves insaid other direction toward said take-up reel,
 1. said take-up reel andsaid rolling means movably supporting said frame; d. a supply reel onsaid frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip; e. a peel-offmember on said frame adjacent said elongated member between said rollingmeans and said take-up reel and for receiving said label-bearing carrierstrip from said supply reel adjacent one side of said peel-off memberwhile said label-bearing carrier strip is moving in one direction towardsaid elongated member so that said label continues in said one directionwhile said carrier strip moves around said peel-off member and continuesin another direction toward said take-up reel,
 2. The labeling apparatusrecited in claim 1 wherein said frame has a pair of opposed side platesand one of said side plates has an assembly rod projecting therefrom andinto said other side plate to form said frame.
 2. said label beingrolled against said elongated member as said rolling means engages saidlabel; f. either said frame being movable on said rolling means and saidtake-up reel in said other direction or said elongated member beingmovable in said one direction to rotate said take-up reel to cause saidtake-up reel to pull said label-bearing carrier strip from said supplyreel around said peel-off member and onto said take-up reel; g. aprinting means on said frame between said supply reel and said peel-offmember and engageable with said labels on said label-bearing carrierstrip to print a predetermined indicia on said labels; h. said printingMeans having a back-up roll on said frame on the carrier strip side ofsaid label-bearing carrier strip, a printing roll frame pivotable onsaid frame, and a printing roll on said printing roll frame andengageable with said labels to print said predetermined indicia on saidlabels; and i. said printing roll having printing means and saidprinting means having a peripheral length substantially equal to thelength of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of the labelmovement through said printing means with the movement of said printingmeans.
 3. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein saidassembly rod is detachable from said other side plate.
 4. The labelingapparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said supply reel is mounted abovesaid take-up reel on the opposed reel side plates of said frame.
 5. Thelabeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein one reel of said supplyreel and said take-up reel has opposed reel side plates connected by aroll core sleeve.
 6. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 5 whereinsaid roll core sleeve has a first core sleeve member and a second coresleeve member detachable from said first core sleeve member tofacilitate loading and unloading of said one reel.
 7. The labelingapparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said roll core sleeve has a taperedportion adjacent one of said reel side plates to accommodate varyingdiameters of the core for said label-bearing carrier strip and varyingwidths of said label-bearing carrier strip.
 8. The labeling apparatusrecited in claim 1 and having a supply reel tensioning means on onemember of said supply reel and said frame engageable with the othermember of said supply reel and said frame to apply a predeterminedtension to said supply reel and said label bearing carrier strip storedon said supply reel.
 9. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1wherein said label-bearing carrier strip drives said back-up roll. 10.The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said printing roll isdriven by said back-up roll.
 11. The labeling apparatus recited in claim1 wherein said printing means has a pressure member pivotable on saidframe and engageable with one member of said printing roll and saidprinting roll frame to apply a predetermined printing pressure to saidprinting roll, said labels and said back-up roll.
 12. The labelingapparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said back-up roll is resilient. 13.The labeling apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein one member of saidframe and said pressure member has stop means to limit the pressureapplying movement of said pressure member.
 14. The labeling apparatusrecited in claim 13 and having printing roll pressure means on onemember of said pressure member, said printing roll and said printingroll frame to engage another member of said pressure member, saidprinting roll and said printing roll frame to limit said pressureapplying movement of said pressure member and to apply a predeterminedprinting pressure to said printing roll, said labels and said back-uproll.
 15. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein saidprinting means has an inking roll on said printing roll frame engageablewith said printing roll for applying printing ink to said printing roll.16. The labeling apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said inking rollhas ink roll pressure applying means for applying a predetermined inkingpressure between said printing roll and said inking roll.
 17. Thelabeling apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein said ink roll pressureapplying means has a first shaft mounted on said printing roll frame, asecond shaft eccentrically mounted on said first shaft and said inkingroll is rotatable on said second shaft.
 18. The labeling apparatusrecited in claim 15 whereiN said inking roll has rigid side platesconfining said inking roll during the inking operation so that saidinking roll maintains its dimensional stability.
 19. For a labelingapparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive labels mounted in aspaced relation on a label-bearing carrier strip and for applying saidlabels onto an elongated member, said apparatus having a frame, a supplyreel on said frame for storing said label-bearing carrier strip, apeel-off member on said frame for separating a label from said carrierstrip and directing said label onto said elongated member, a take-upreel on said frame for receiving the label-less carrier strip, and arolling means on said frame in rolling spaced relation with said take-upreel, a. a printing means on said frame between said supply reel andsaid peel-off member and engageable with said labels on saidlabel-bearing carrier strip to print a predetermined indicia on saidlabels, b. said printing means having a back-up roll on said frame onthe carrier strip side of said label-bearing carrier strip, a printingroll frame pivotable on said frame, and a printing roll on said printingroll frame and engageable with said labels to print said predeterminedindicia on said labels; and c. said printing roll having printing meansand said printing means having a peripheral length substantially equalto the length of a label thereby eliminating synchronization of thelabel movement through said printing means with the movement of saidprinting means.
 20. The printing means recited in claim 19 wherein saidlabel-bearing carrier strip drives said back-up roll.
 21. The printingmeans recited in claim 20 wherein said printing roll is driven by saidback-up roll.
 22. The printing means recited in claim 20 wherein saidprinting means has a pressure member pivotable on said frame andengageable with one member of said printing roll and said printing rollframe to apply a predetermined printing pressure to said printing roll,said labels and said back-up roll.
 23. The printing means recited inclaim 20 wherein said back-up roll is resilient.
 24. The printing meansrecited in claim 22 wherein one member of said frame and said pressuremember has stop means to limit the pressure applying movement of saidpressure member.
 25. The printing means recited in claim 24 havingprinting roll pressure means on one member of said pressure member, saidprinting roll and said printing roll frame to engage another member ofsaid pressure member, said printing roll and said printing roll frame,when said stop means limits said pressure applying movement of saidpressure member, to apply a predetermined printing pressure to saidprinting roll, said labels and said back-up roll.
 26. The printing meansrecited in claim 19 wherein said printing means has an inking roll onsaid printing roll frame engageable with said printing roll for applyingprinting ink to said printing roll.
 27. The printing means recited inclaim 26 wherein said inking roll has ink roll pressure applying meansfor applying a predetermined inking pressure between said printing rolland said inking roll.
 28. The printing means recited in claim 27 whereinsaid ink roll pressure applying means has a first shaft mounted on saidprinting roll frame, a second shaft eccentrically mounted on said firstshaft and said inking roll is rotatable on said second shaft.